When you see the Tumbleweed Snowman go up on Interstate 40, you know the holiday season has officially begun.
The Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority has put up the iconic display outside of their office every year since 1995.
"His debut occurs on Tumbleweed Tuesday, the Tuesday after the Thanksgiving holiday," the authority said on its website. "For most Albuquerque residents, his appearance signals the start of the holiday season."
Every year, the snowman grows larger.
"He currently averages about 12-14 feet tall, about eight feet wide," the authority said. "His decorations are made of recycled materials. The eyes, mouth and buttons are made from scrap metal, his nose is a broken ax handle, his hands are old work gloves, and his hat is a 55-gallon drum. His scarf is knitted by the mother-in-law of one of our maintenance crew."
According to Nolan Bennett, authority director, the snowman's appearance can be deceiving.
“It involves three very large tumbleweeds," Bennett told KRQE. "People think it’s a lot of tumbleweeds tied together, but it’s really only three tumbleweeds.”
The tumbleweeds were collected in Valencia County this year, using recycled materials from maintenance jobs for the rest of the tumbleweed snowman.